The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 102: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

84 REYNOLDS’ WORKS it would be ungrateful indeed on my part not to do your bidding in all things. I have to thank you, Mr. Pollard, for the manner in which you have carried out the trust con- fided to you by my deceased father, the regularity with which you have made me my periodical remittances — ”’ ‘“‘ There is no need to thank me,”’ answered Pollard, ‘‘ and yet I am of course glad that you are satisfied with my guardianship. You will give me credit, Louisa, for having abstained from reproach when you took a certain step — ”’ “ Do not allude to it, my dear sir,” interrupted Lettice, carrying her kerchief to her eyes; “ it reminds me but too painfully of my irreparable loss.” ‘““ Yes, yes, it must,’’ said the old miser. ‘ You will re- main here, then, for a day or two? It will please me to have the society of one whom I knew as a child, but whom I have not seen until now since her girlhood. I learned that you had grown up into a fine, handsome woman, and I was not deceived. I should not have known you, —no. I should not have recognized you; you are different from what I expected you to be, and yet there is the same colour of the hair, — yes, and the eyes, too, but the profile has taken developments of which your girlhood gave but little prom- ise.” While thus speaking, Anthony Pollard contemplated Lettice Rodney wth earnest attention, but yet without any suspicion in his looks or his manner. This was an ordeal that put all her powers of hypocrisy and dissimulation to the test; it was, however, one which she had naturally foreseen she would have to pass through, and for which she was conse- quently prepared. She bore that scrutiny well, affecting to smile and blush modestly at the compliment which was paid to her beauty; and that blush also served as a veil for any little trifling confusion which she could not altogether prevent. It was quite evident that the old man had not the remotest misgiving as to the identity of his visitress with Mrs. Rayner, and it was therefore only with a businesslike caution that he proceeded to give to the conversation that turn which it now took. “‘ We were speaking a few minutes back of the railway accident,’ he said, ‘“‘ and I may now observe that my appre- hension as to your having lost your life on the occasion was but a feeble one, inasmuch as the unrecognized lady ap- CORNICLO@OO ee ee ee ee Oe De es ’ hh